Two late goals rescue Torquay United in FA Cup

Trailing 0-2, apparently going out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle again and with their season in danger of falling apart, Torquay United somehow salvaged a draw in a dramatic ten-minute spell of the second half against Hampton & Richmond Borough at Plainmoor.

When Jake Gray scored in the 71st minute, following up Temi Babalola's first-half breakthrough, Gary Johnson's Gulls looked in a parlous state, with very little hope of avoiding another embarrassing home defeat.

But a sensational long-range volley by Brett McGavin, seconds after Gray had made it 2-0, breathed new life into United.

With new loan signing Dillon De Silva pepping a previously blank-firing attack, Torquay stormed back and a De Silva cross in the 81st minute was headed home by Shaun Donnellan for the equaliser.

It still took a desperate goalmouth block by home debutant Chinwike Okoli to ensure that United live again for a replay at Hampton's Beveree ground on Tuesday night, and the Gulls can only be relieved that they are at least still in Monday's First Round draw.

Johnson was able to recall Dylan Crowe and Ben Wyatt at wing-back, but more injuries, including new casualties Dan Martin (knee), Scott Smith (hamstring) and Ryan Hanson (concussion), meant that United were able to name only four substitutes.

Hampton had seven on their bench, but Queen's Park Rangers had cup-tied their on-loan goalkeeper Joe Walsh, though another Loftus Road loanee, Matteo Salamon, took over between the posts.

United kept up almost non-stop pressure from the first whistle.

Brett McGavin set up Ben Wyatt for a cross which just evaded Aaron Jarvis and Will Goodwin, but when Dean Moxey headed a McGavin corner back across goal, there was no one there to finish.

Salamon did not look to have the stature or confidence to deal with high balls, but United probably didn't test him enough.

Asa Hall, visibly leading the side from midfield, also had a run and shot over the bar, and Hampton had hardly got out of their own half when they finally mounted an attack in the 18th minute - and scored.

Referee Dean Watson ruled that a Tommy Wood shot had hit a hand, and he pointed immediately to the spot.

United's protests were in vain and, although Halstead dived to his right and parried Tommy Block's less-than-convincing penalty, he couldn't keep out Babalola's follow-up, although he got his fingers to it…0-1.

The fact that Babalola was first to the rebound will not have pleased Johnson.

The 'traffic' continued to be one-way for the rest of the half.

Jarvis headed a Donnellan diagonal cross wide and Wyatt cut in from the left and unleashed a 25-yard drive which Salamon tipped onto his bar and away.

Mr Watson warned Hampton for time-wasting as early as the 32nd minute, which made a booking for Marcus Sablier for the same offence even more gormless.

Wyatt picked up a knock forcing United's seventh corner of the first half, and he was still trying to run off the problem when Hampton nearly made it 2-0 deep into stoppage-time, Ben Shroll heading a corner over the bar.

At least Torquay went in at the interval only one down.

United could at least claim that they had played fairly well in the first half, but all confidence and quality evaporated from their game after the restart.

There was no anticipation or reading of the game, and even their reactions seemed to desert them.

Only a close-range save by Halstead denied Sablier a goal after he was given too much room to chest down a Block cross and volley for goal.

At least De Silva had livened things up on the left wing, and in the 54th minute he crossed and Goodwin's headed was deflected over for a corner.

But there was no visible sign that United were about to save themselves and, after they had completely turned off at a short corner and nearly paid the price, Johnson sent on Ali Omar for Lapslie.

The Gulls were in danger of imploding at that point and, when Babalola held the ball up, without any real challenge, and laid it off for Gray to drill an 18-yard right-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner in the 71st minute, it looked all over…0-2.

Only something dramatic could have saved Torquay at that point, and seconds after that goal, McGavin came up with it.

The United midfielder had endured an afternoon to forget, but as an attack was half-cleared out to him. he unleashed a first-time 25-yard volley which flew into the top right-hand corner…1-2.

In that moment the game was transformed.

United poured it on.

Donnellan nearly equalised after a one-two move with Jarvis and, in the 81st minute, De Silva crossed again from the left and Donnellan was at the far post to head home…2-2.

De Silva had a chance to win it as the tie moved into stoppage-time, but he blasted his first-time shot so far wide that it went for a throw-in.

And, befitting a 'wild west' tie, United nearly lost it in stoppage-time.

They were caught on the break, just about blocked one shot and then needed Okoli to pull off a terrific goalline clearance to stop Liam Vincent winning it with a drive from 12 yards out!

Torquay United (3-5-2): Halstead; Donnellan, Okoli, Moxey; Crowe, Lapslie (Omar 64), Hall, McGavin, Wyatt (De Silva 46); Jarvis, Goodwin; subs not used - Lovett, Tomlinson.

Booked: Hall 62, Crowe 68.

Hampton & Richmond Borough (4-4-2): Salamon; Block, Davis, Shroll, Donaldson; Vincent, Miller-Rodney, Gray, Sablier; Wood, Babalola; subs not used - Inman, Fernandez, Whittingham, Ilic, Davies, Shokunbi, Dunne.

Booked: Sablier 33, Shroll 70.

Referee: Dean Watson (Rochdale).

Attendance: 1,264 (68 Beavers fans).

United's Under-18 side are looking forward to a First Round Proper tie away to Oxford United after beating Bishop's Cleeve 5-0 at Buckland Athletic on Friday night.

The young Gulls were 3-0 up in just over 20 minutes, through Ben Aldous, Jayden Gilbert and Brandon Quinn, and a fourth goal by George Collins just before half-time virtually had the game won by the interval.

Collins hit a fifth in the 61st minute, and Ryan Dickson's side - they also hit the woodwork three times - cruised to an impressive victory.